Radical Mystery Bus Tour

December 05, 2007

Friday, November 30th will likely be a day that 45 shop kids in Colorado remember for the rest of their lives. Not really sure of what to expect, handpicked employees were told to show up at John Damiano’s Burton showroom in Denver at 7:00 am for some breakfast prior to boarding a bus bound for Breckenridge.

The guests, ranging from ages 18 — 38 and working at various snowboard shops across the Front Range mixed and mingled over coffee and breakfast burritos that morning. The last thing they expected was to be greeted by Burton riders Jeremy Jones, Dave Downing, Elena Hight and Jussi Oksanen. Before the surprise could even fully register, everyone was loaded on to the bus and was on their way for a full day of fun and riding with the Burton crew. To pass the time various snowboard videos played on the bus’ TV monitors during the 90 minute ride to Breck.

Once the bus pulled up to the Beaver Run base area at the resort everyone was directed to the Burton Demo tent that Damiano’s crew had set up and stocked with 08 product for the occasion. Jake Burton, Kelly Clark, Gabi Viteri and Madison Ellsworth were already there, waiting for the group to arrive and pick up their lift tickets and lunch passes. The temperature was 36 with a light snow falling throughout the day; perfect conditions for a super fun day.

In the words of Liam Griffin, Events Director for Burton the “level of stoke was at an all time high and the Radical Mystery Bus Tour was well underway.

Shop kids, pros and Burton employees all took laps together, hitting the newly opened back-to-back 30′ tables, popping in and out of the woods, floating rollers, hitting the jib park and having a blast. Principal Burton photographer Jeff Curtes and filmer Aaron Hooper were on hand shooting the days’ events so the kids could have professional shots and footage of them after the day was done. Dave Downing and Jeremy Jones hammed it up for the cameras, taking turns laying down on their backs and sticking their boards in the air for the other to slide.

Everyone broke from the fun for lunch at the Peak 9 restaurant at the top of Beaver Run. The tickets that were issued that morning were good for anything and everything at the restaurant- and kids were taking full advantage, piling up their trays with as much food as they would hold. Some of our snowboard media friends stopped by in addition to snowboarding legends Janna Meyen and Todd Richards.

Once everyone was sufficiently full, all were ushered outside for a group shot. Then, back to work- more jibbing, slashing, thrashing, schralping and shredding was to be had.

As the day wound down everyone ended up back at the Burton Demo tent to meet up and head down to dinner at Mi Casa in Breck. Over Mexican food and margaritas everyone traded their stories from the day.

“It was a blast. I have never been to a party that compared to this. The Playboy Mansion couldn’t top it! said Sean Galway of BC Surf and Sport. Jakob Hosmer of North Shore in Colorado Springs told us “I met my heroes today, getting to ride with these guys that I’ve looked up to and based my life around definitely got me amped for snowboarding. Today was epic.

Jake Burton couldn’t agree more, “Today was definitely the best day of my winter so far, it was great to meet so many good people and have lots of fun out there with them. Final hugs and handshakes were doled out as the bus filled back up and headed home. This unique opportunity may not be the last- where and when the Radical Mystery Bus Tour shows up next is anyone’s guess. Stay tuned!